Lopez's Q&A: Soccer runs deep in the heart of Houston

LOPEZ'S Q&A

JOHN P. LOPEZ, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle |
January 4, 2005

Send questions, comments to Chronicle columnist John P. Lopezhere.Question: I live in The Woodlands. I play on the Texans Soccer Club. I’m only 14, but as someone whose family has the money to pay for training and has the fields, I wanted to say thanks for inspiring me to do my best with the series you did on soccer. I have been blessed and now I have a better understanding and appreciation for what I have.

Drew in The Woodlands

Answer: The soccer series you’re talking about led to more email responses than I could respond to in this space – more than 100 at last count. As you will see below, there were various opinions on the matter of soccer fields available to inner-city youth in Houston. Not all of them were favorable about the subject.

All I can tell you is that your appreciation of what you have is admirable. And the sooner more people recognize the need for better opportunities for those who play this growing sport, the better. Soccer runs deep in the heart of Houston.

Question: Your recent series on inner-city soccer was on point and hit very close to home. It is not unusual for Olympic Development Program candidates to be noticed not only by coaches, but also by referees. Without U.S. Soccer Federation sponsorship, most referees are reluctant to officiate at inner-city matches. Thus, the kids don’t get exposure. To make the inner-city youth program viable, the City needs to provide the necessary infrastructure (including money) to participate fully as U.S. Soccer Federation affiliates. This is the biggest problem a lot of great players who could represent this country in the Olympics some day face.

Jim in Houston

Answer: I have to admit, the problem Houston faces with the U.S. Soccer Federation was one part of the story that I missed. I promise I will follow up on that as soon as I can. I also have heard from the new Houston parks director, who took note of the series and with whom I will follow-up also.

Question: Your articles on lack of soccer fields within the City of Houston amazed me. For a city the size of Houston, especially with its large growing Hispanic population, there is only a small fraction of the fields that should be provided to meet the needs of the citizens.

A city that thinks of itself as "international" should embrace the most popular sport in the world.

Soccer is the perfect venue where children (and adults) of all races, backgrounds, talent levels, and economic means can compete fairly and enjoy playing together. I have seen it myself on my son's team, where we have 11-year-old boys with families from Mexico, Trinidad, Guatemala, France, Scotland, Spain, England, Lebanon, and other places. They play together as a team and as good friends.

Moffitt Park is an example of the City Parks Department not utilizing assets in ways that benefit the most constituents. Just because a 50-acre park has been used for a very low-density use like disc golf in the past, does not mean it should stay that way forever.

Disc golf is all over Houston parks because it is a way to designate use without spending to improve it. That’s a joke. The City should be ashamed.

Along comes a private group willing to spend the time and effort to raise on the order of $500,000 to build a first-class soccer facility on behalf of the City. The fields in Moffitt Park would serve at least 650 youth every week, for 10 months of the year.

I hope your articles raise the awareness of all citizens of Houston. We can spend a billion dollars on three professional sports arenas. Why can't we find the comparatively tiny amount of money and commitment to build soccer fields for our youth?

Jim in Houston

Answer: I couldn’t have put it better myself. From what I’ve heard from city leaders and parks representatives, this is an issue that will at least be better-addressed in future weeks and months. That’s a nice start.

Question: I read your article regarding the need for a youth soccer facility for inner-city youth.

You also mentioned Moffitt Park and the "frisbee" golfers. As usual, when only one side of an issue is reported, only the negative is mentioned. I'm sorry to see you fall in to this trap and I'd like to clarify a few points.

The Houston Flying Disc Society has almost 700 members (not the 300 you mention). But this only represents a very small number of the people who play disc golf.

We have hundreds of people all over the city that enjoy the sport. Why didn't you mention that disc golfers raise thousands of dollars every year for the Houston Food Bank? Why didn't you mention that the improvements at our disc golf courses are all made by volunteers? Have you ever been to Moffitt Park?

Yes, we have a few players who may exhibit inappropriate behavior. What group doesn't? But why are they spying on us? Obviously, it just gives them someone to lash out against because the community rejected the idea of a soccer complex at Moffitt. It seems like this energy could be better spent on finding a suitable area.

Jack in Houston

Answer: I mentioned clearly that disc golf certainly deserves its venues. But 10 disc-golf courses for 300 ranked members? Maybe there are 700 who play, but the Houston disc society ranks only 300.

And I’m still trying to find the first member that has been brought up through the flying-disc ranks and earned a scholarship for NCAA flying-disc competitions.

That’s what this was about. Kids who are looking for a chance to earn careers.

I have nothing against frisbee. I do think the city has dropped the ball, er, frisbee, badly.

What if ... Beltran doesn't stay?

Question: If the Astros fail to sign Carlos Beltran, what do you think the choices will be in center field?

Josh in Pearland

Answer: I’m not sure what the choices will be, but I can tell you what they won’t be.

Much has been mentioned of Jose Cruz Jr. being a Plan B in the event of Beltran moving on.

It’s not going to happen. The Astros feel strongly about Jason Lane, who continues to be the only player mentioned in any deals involving Cruz Jr. As much as Cheo Jr. would be a feel-good story in town, it doesn’t make baseball sense for the club. They’re going to cling to Lane.

Texans should be more agressive

Question: John, Something has been bothering me for the last two years concerning my beloved home-town football team, the Texans. On defense, why do our safeties and deep backs play the offensive team so soft? Is it because our players are too slow, or are they instructed to play this way? The team needs to be much more aggressive in this area. They should watch the game day tape with the Colts to learn more about being aggressive. Can you explain this more in depth to me? It's is driving me nuts.

Les in Spring

Answer: It drives me crazy, too. But you answered your own question. The players – more precisely the safeties – are not the top-shelf defenders necessary to play press coverage.

At corner, Aaron Glenn continues to make plays and Dunta Robinson is a big-play maker who also makes big mistakes because he is a rookie.

The safe route is to cushion receivers, bending but not breaking, as the old saying goes. The bigger problem in my opinion is that if you’re going to play soft, fine.

But you’d better have big-time playmakers up front or mix in a lot of blitzes, so the opposing quarterback won’t have the time to check down to his second and third options and pick you apart.

Bottom line: I could live with the Texans secondary as-is if there was a legitimate and consistent push up front. There’s not.